Of Matters Military. Mrinal Suman

       (I bow before my father, in whom I see all gods and who fulfills all my aspirations.He is the inspiration for achievements, and he relieves me from all worries.I pay my obeisance to my revered father. Garuda Purana:89.29)

       Dedicated to my father

       Late Shri RN Kumaria

       On his 50th Death Anniversary

       Contents

Part – 1Lending a Helping Hand

1. Pokhran II: The Challenge of Sinking Shafts

2. Army’s Aid to the Railways Raised Many Eyebrows

       3. Employment of Army in Aid of Civil Authority

4. Need for a Specialised Force for Internal Unrests

5. Flood Relief: Another Perspective

6. Combat Engineer Support in Siachen Glacier

Part – 2Organisational Issues

1. Jointmanship and Attitudinal Issues

2. Shortage of Officers in the Services

3. Impediments to the Modernisation of the Indian Defence Forces

4. Shooting in the Foot Services Style

       5. Defence Reforms: Expert Committees or Futile Charades

       6. Colonel Commandants: An Archaic and Parochial Institution

       7. Indian Army: Need to Change with Times

       8. The Defence Ministry Abhors Reforms

       9. Shortage of Officers of Requisite Quality is a Matter of Concern for the Army

       10. Need to Bridge Inter-Services Trust Deficit

       Part – 3Of Configurations

       1. Need for Defence and Aerospace Commission

       2. ‘Teeth to Tail Ratio’: An Archaic Concept

       3. India Needs Association of Defence Manufacturers

       4. Lateral Induction of Ex-servicemen

       5. India Needs Independent Defence Think Tanks

       6. Defence University for India: An Appraisal of the Proposition

       7. Border Roads Organisation: A Dynamic Organisation in Distress

       Part – 4Defence Economics

       1. Defence Economics and its Application to Indian Defence Planning

       2. Outsourcing of Defence Logistics

       3. Defence Finance: Authority sans Accountability

       4. Essentiality of Financial Prudence in Defence Spending

       5. Delays in Defence Spending and Surrender of Funds

       6. Affordability in Defence Procurements

       7. Need for Reforming the Defence Budgeting Regime

       Part – 5Military and Civil Society

       1. Denigrating the Armed Forces: A Dangerous Agenda

       2. When Media Becomes Irresponsible

       3. Public Standing of the Indian Military

       4. Military and Media: Need for Mutual Sensitisation

       5. Redeeming the Standing of the Army

       6. Military Leadership and Trial by Media

       Part – 6Women in the Services

       1. Women in the Indian Armed Forces

       2. Women in the Armed Forces: Misconceptions and Facts

       3. Feedback on Women in the Army: Asset or Liability?

       4. Women in the Foreign Militaries

       5. Women Fighter Pilots: A Slapdash Act of Tokenism

       6. Women in Combat: Unravelling the Facts